Tools of the Trade

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Frank V. Fidani
  • Joint Space Operations Center
On an uncharacteristically cool, crisp night, deep in the heart of Louisiana, my efforts to evade capture by an opposition force came to a sudden halt when, quite unintentionally, I managed to gift-wrap myself in the painful spirals of razor-sharp concertina wire. Repeated flails did nothing to break the entanglement. One hundred meters west of my position, an L-shaped flanking maneuver meant to annihilate me was beginning to take shape. Alone, bound, and hunted, the creepy twangs of a banjo rift felt more real than imagined. I had to escape.

As luck would have it, a cleverly designed, multi-purpose godsend of compact utility-my cherished Leatherman tool-was tethered to my belt loop. Disregarding noise discipline, I employed its numerous accouterments to pinch, pull, twist, and cut the tangled mess of wire from my body-cue the angelic chorus of halleluiahs. Relishing in my newfound freedom, I sprinted towards the safety of friendly forces at a pace worthy of a Nike endorsement.

It's been two decades since my all-inclusive "vacation" at the U.S. Army's Joint Readiness Training Center, and in that time you'd find the number of entanglements I've had to maneuver through or around have grown relative to the price of gas. Not surprisingly, every one of those encounters required an assemblage of tools that allowed me to work towards success.

Many of the tools at my disposal, like my Leatherman, were ones I could see, touch and wield. You're familiar with them by way of their omnipresence in drawers, sheds and garages. They're made of a formative element-like metal-and are procured, acquired and distributed by the Air Force based on the missions we execute. With them in hand, I've been able to work on weapons and satellites and everything in between.

Other tools I've relied on were less tangible, forged not from metal but through years of acquired knowledge, experience, and insight. They're commonly referred to as soft tools because their employment affects change in people, not equipment. I've applied them when trying to create synergy, develop cohesion, modify behavior, influence decisions and inspire involvement. None of these tools were pulled from a box. To acquire them I had to sit through seminars, attend conferences, participate in training, seek certifications and pursue advanced academic education.

As you might imagine, I've been able to amass a sizeable repertoire of tools through the years. Taken individually, each was designed for a specific task, supporting a singular effort. Used collectively, however, I employed my tools MacGyver-like across a full range of day-to-day contingencies. Their collective use guaranteed my success, allowing me to be more flexible, dynamic and efficient; all important qualities that brought maneuverability around the daily entanglements that conspired to derail me from leading organizations, managing resources and supervising Airmen.

Like the tools of my trade, I've become sharper and more utilitarian. What's in your toolbox?